Christmas Symbols in the Philippines

Many families during the month of December are busy shopping for Christmas presents, decorating a Christmas tree, and getting ready for Santa Clause. For those families celebrating Hanukkah this can conclude of preparing Latkes, singing Ma’Oz Tzur, and lighting the candles of the Menorah.

"Father Christmas goes back in any event to the extent the seventeenth century in Britain, and pictures of him make due from that time, depicting him as an all-around fed whiskery man wearing a long, green, hide lined robe. He embodied the soul of optimism at Christmas" (Wikipedia-Santa). Additionally Christmas is the occasion to unite families for "Christmas traditions include: present giving and fun from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and philanthropy from the Roman New Year; and Yule logs and different sustenance from Germanic dining experiences." Christmas really is the occasion of giving and family

An account of a Puerto Rican national Jose Serrano of the traditions related to this day provide a full picture of the holiday. Serrano writes that rather than placing a glass of milk and a plate of cookies, or leave a red stocking for Santa Claus, as many children do in the United States, children in Puerto Rico collect some grass to fit it inside a shoe box. The grass put under the bed is meant for weary camels of horses of the Three Kings. The children want the horses get new energy continue their long journey around the world (Serrano par. 3-4). In the morning, the children get up looking for what the Three Kings have left for them in gratitude and in exchange for food the kids have given for their animals. The author mentions that this tradition is a beloved one for Puerto Ricans and is observed even these days in the United States, where the Hispanic culture is said to be losing its traditions. Importantly, Puerto Ricans remember the religious background of he holiday and their belief regarding it is essentially faith-based. The Three Kings, Serrano admits, are important, since they brought gifts to Baby Jesus and were blessed with understanding that Jesus is the Savior of the World. During this day, Puerto Ricans sing holiday songs and Christmas carols devoted to the Magi (Serrano par.

Christmas is a very special holiday in many countries including Spain and the United States. In the United States Christmas celebration traditionally starts after Thanksgiving. In Spain however it is not celebrated until Christmas Eve with their families.

In the Hispanic countries mentioned above, Christmas is referred to as “La Navidad.” They celebrate this holiday during the winter time, where it is said Jesus Christ was born. Children of the countries wake up to find presents left by a special someone under the tree

IChristmas choirs! Jingling bells! Manger scenes! Excited children! Unfortunately, there are many children who are facing hunger here and throughout the world or enduring war, or who are in hospital and not able to be home for Christmas. Many of our children in the Shrine Hospitals are not able to get home for Christmas, so my prayer is that they are safe and secure and able to share the joy of the Christ Child’s birth.

In addition, all passed generations of the Morocho have all been catholic because of their belief and faith in God and Jesus. The Morocho family has all turned to God and Jesus in time of need and thanked Jesus for giving them everything they have. An essential part of being catholic is children have to be baptized, do their first communion, and confirmation. Going through baptism, first communion, and confirmation give them the fundaments to learn more about their religion also how to communicate with god. Oscar a member of the Morocho family stated, “I learned the importance of believing in my religion and I pray for my whole family and I, using what I have learned in religion school”. In the Morocho’s Family parents sign their children up to be part of the play of Jesus birth in Bethlehem.” Through religion school they learn to say prayers and make the sign of the cross that is used in mass and in the mass of Christmas Eve. Lourdes said “We praise Jesus on Christmas because he is the Son of God and did so many things for us for example he sacrificed himself for us”. All in all, purpose of practicing religion on Christmas Eve is to honor Jesus’s birth.

WHAT: The holiday season is in full gear and the best way to get in the spirit this weekend is with Mokena's Christmas Fest. This jam-packed day will be full of Christmas fun for the whole family. Start the day off at Santa's workshop where your kids can create Christmas decorations, write letters to Santa and more while you start your Christmas shopping as you browse through a variety of local crafters and vendors. Enjoy a delicious lunch and then head over to see Santa to take a holiday picture while enjoying a magic and balloon show from Master Ron. Grab your newly crafted decoration and head outside to proudly hang it on the Village Christmas tree. Then head over to FNBC Bank to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies before you set off to join Santa for the annual parade of lights followed by some caroling. End your exciting day with the family Christmas dance where a DJ will supply the music and fun holiday vibes.

Christmas was to be a festival to reflect on society in a way to show that it was better than the past. The medieval time periods has perfect models that seemed to bring sheer celebration to christmas. “Merrie England” and the “Olde Christmas” provided the foundation to help build a new Christmas, one that fit the time period, and

In addition, for Hanukkah they light the menorah and play the dreidel. Another difference is the importance of Christmas and Hanukkah. Christmas celebrates the nativity of Christ and it is as diverse as the many countries that observe it, and was a popular subject in the Catholic and Orthodox religious art of the middle ages and Renaissance( The Gift of Holiday Traditions).Hanukkah is celebrated after a miracle occurred when the Jewish people reclaimed their temple from their Seleucid (Macedonian) conquerors Judah ’s men tried to reconsecrate the Jewish temple by lighting its menorah which is a sacramental lamp. The story of the birth of Jesus can be found in the bible.

The most popular rituals of Easter and Christmas are probably the most changed. Originally, Easter celebrated the resurrection of Christ, with Good Friday being a day of solemn reflection (Q1c). However, in today’s society, Easter has become more about the chocolate – Easter eggs and Easter bunnies have seemingly become common place in every household in contemporary Australia. Hot Cross Buns are big as well, with them being sold in every grocery store as soon as Christmas ends. In today’s society, Easter is celebrated by seemingly everyone, instead of just Christians, as it was in the past. Like Easter, Christmas has also become more secular, with the majority of Australians celebrating Christmas, even if they are from another faith group, or have no religion (Q1b). Social researcher Mark McCrindle writes that Christmas is unique in the Australian Calendar as it ‘simultaneouslygathers familiesandthebroadercommunityin celebration’ (Q1b). Often, religious citizens will celebrate Christmas by attending mass and praying, with 1 in 5 Australians ‘definitely’ attended a service (Q1b). Although, secular celebrations of Christmas have become more popular everywhere – these include Christmas trees and giving gifts. However, in more recent times, debate has occurred over whether Christmas should be celebrated in public places, for example,

According to Kevin Hendricks 91% of American’s celebrate Christmas but only 47% of American’s attend Christmas Eve mass. This statistic shows that even during special holidays people don’t choice to practice their religion. Some families’ most important tradition is religion but as years pass there is less and less people practicing their religion. Despite that the Morocho family from generation to generation has always kept their faith in religion especially on Christmas Eve. Every generation of the Morocho family grows up catholic and with that in mind they go to Christmas Eve mass to practice their religion. The most essential tradition in the Morocho family is celebrating Christmas Eve by gathering with the family to practice their

Filipino family and American Family are both celebrating holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries in similar and somewhat different aspects. Filipino family are celebrating Christmas by visiting church not as same as American Family. During the Christmas season in the Philippines "Misa de Gallo" or night mass, is a novena of dawn masses starting from December 16-24, a tradition for Filipinos. Filipinos believe in the superstitious belief that if you completed Misa De Gallo which is 9 consecutive nights of masses, 1 wish would be granted. Significantly different from the masses that held here in US. In contrast to US families some families wouldn’t

Christmas has been kept for hundreds of years with traditions, in many countries around the world. The United States starts to prepare for Christmas months in advance. From decorating with lights, to shopping, Americans are so hyped up about this holiday. But Americans seem blinded about other countries’ cultures, so that blind fold will be taken off now. The Christmas traditions and customs of Brazil, Egypt, and Sweden will be explored to show how others celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is the annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus on the 25th December, at least that is what it began as initially. Since it has expanded into an international phenomenon for consumption, taking priority over our everyday practices of life (Michel De Certeau, 1980). Our time we spend divided between work and leisure in accordance to the codes and conventions of society shifts, Christmas derails these expectations. Yet surprisingly Christmas gains little attention in terms of social research, despite the fact that it can be explored diversely. The inquiry ‘What is Christmas?’ links to multiple aspects of social research. The aspects of Christmas can be subdivided into the following; religion, commercialism, gift-giving, social relationships, sensualism and mythology. This essay will analyse these fundamentals of Christmas through both psychological and sociological perspectives, as the theories among these two social sciences are best suited to the elements which make up Christmas itself.